DETOXIFICATION

In recent history, mankind has managed to drastically change the chemistry of the environment in which we live. For example, in 1989 alone, more than 1,000,000,000 pounds of chemicals were released into the ground, threatening a portion of the soil we grow our food in and the natural underground water tables that supply most of our drinking water. Over 188,000,000 pounds of chemicals were also discharged into surface waters such as lakes and rivers. More than 2,400,000,000 pounds of chemical emissions were pumped into the air we breathe. A grand total of 5,705,670,380 pounds of chemical pollutants were released into the environment we eat, breathe, and live in - all in just one year!

To compound the problem of our toxic environment, we have refined away much of the nutritional value of our food supply and replaced it with artificial colorings, preservatives, flavorings, conditioners, etc. This poor quality diet, combined with the extensive use of antibodies in medicine and agriculture may have re-disposed many of us to experience a kind of “internal” pollution. Internal pollution occurs when the healthful bacteria in the intestinal tract are overcome by unhealthful bacteria. These unhealthful bacterial release toxic by-products into our circulation which can negatively affect many aspects of our overall health.

What does this problem of toxicity mean for us individually? It may present a threat to the vibrant level of health we would like to enjoy. But whether we succumb to the adverse effects of toxicity depends on our knowledge of the subject and the choices we make. We need to take personal responsibility to make sure that we do not fall victim to toxicity. That involves learning what we need to do to help our body protect itself from toxicity.

Some of the basic requirements to avoid toxicity: Do all you can to purify your work and home environments. If you  know the source of any toxic materials at work, such as stored or leaking chemicals, dyes, paints, solvents, glues, acids, or household offenders such as insecticides or cleaning agents, remove them if possible. If the offending materials cannot be removed, an effective air purification system may be needed. At least, wear protective clothing and/or breathing apparatus when using any toxic materials. Regular replacement of furnace and air conditioning filters may also be helpful. It is also very important to eat a good diet with plenty of fresh, wholesome foods. Avoid eating excess fat, refined sugar and foods high in additives and preservatives. Eat moderate levels of protein (approximately 15% to 20% of your calories) and fat (approximately 20% of your calories), while increasing levels of complex carbohydrates (approximately 60% of your calories). Substitute organically-raised animals and organically - grown fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Drink plenty of purified water (ideally eight 8-ounce glasses a day). A home water purification system is highly desirable to provide pure water for drinking and cooking.

 One thing is certain in our effort to purify our work and home environments: it is impossible to avoid toxicity completely! With that realization, the importance of supporting your body’s efforts to eliminate accumulated toxins cannot be overstated. 

Formerly it was believed that a water or juice fast was a preferred detoxification program. These fasts were thought to work under the principle that the body will be able to clear stored toxins and heal itself when the “stress” of digestion and the further accumulation of toxins were eliminated. The modern-day realization that the body’s detoxification mechanism is a heavily nutrient-supported process has made it clear that simple juice or water fasting is less complete and no longer the method of choice. Prolonged fasting may weaken muscles and various organs because of protein losses and a gradual slowing of metabolic activity as the body endeavors to conserve its depleted energy resources.            

A more current approach to detoxification is to nourish the body thoroughly, fueling its natural detoxification mechanism with the nutrients needed to achieve optimal detoxification activity. By providing high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates and essential fats, the body gets what it needs to prevent muscle and organ breakdown and depleted energy resources. But that is just the beginning. Nutrients are needed to support the function of the organs directly involved in detoxification: the liver, the intestinal tract and the kidneys. Intelligent application of nutrition may help in the following ways:

Exercise helps by increasing metabolic rate and body temperature. It promotes sweating, which helps to remove toxins, including those stored in fatty tissues, as you burn off the excess fat or replace normal levels of body fat. Exercise also eliminates toxins by stimulating passage of waste through the colon and promoting regular bowel movements. As a result, toxins spend less time in contact with the vulnerable bowel mucosa, and the likelihood of re-absorption is diminished.

No one doubts the value of exercise for health and promotion of longevity, and the sense of vigor and vibrancy it provides. The additional value of detoxification may well be a part of the reason that it produces a sense of well being and the long-term health benefits.

Treatments aim to free the body from a build-up of various artificial toxins. The poisons targeted by these therapies are not necessarily the high-profile carcinogens we've all come to fear. More often, they are unspecified pollutants and byproducts thought to have a generally negative impact on health. Although the offending substances are frequently nameless and vague, advocates of detoxification believe that, as a group, these chemicals are somehow at the root of all disease. Eliminating them eases the load on the immune system and gives the body a chance to heal itself. In this way, they say, detoxification can prevent cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes; lower blood pressure; increase vitality; improve mental function; and slow down the aging process. Since no single, specific toxin is typically identified for elimination, it's impossible to say whether the treatments have succeeded in removing it, or whether it  was causing a problem in the first place. Most mainstream scientists therefore dismiss the whole approach as unproven--and unprovable. And there are, in fact, no clinical studies supporting the effectiveness of these treatments.

How the Treatments Are Done? Physicians have devised a number of methods to rid the body of the toxins we build up.  Many of the methods, such as fasting and special diets, are self-administered but should be directed and monitored by a physician.  CEIM does not provide all the treatments listed below.  Those we do not provide are indicated by (*Not Available at CEIM).

What the Treatment Hopes to Accomplish  - We are living in an age of  "toxic overload," and that the herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, rancid oils, artificial colors and flavors, food additives, and preservatives we use or ingest every day eventually interfere with the normal functioning of our bodies. Potential dangers to our metabolic balance are posed by many everyday products including paints, household cleaning products, cosmetics, many prescription and over-the-counter medications - even clothes made from synthetic products. The refined and processed foods in our diet pose additional threats, along with our high intake of fat, caffeine, and alcohol.

A healthy diet (no artificial ingredients or refined foods, and little fat) and a chemical-free home and workplace can get you started on the road back to health, but won't fully undo the damage caused by years of toxic build-up. For that you may need the treatments described above.

Who Should Avoid This Therapy?  Do not take any type of detoxification therapy if you  are pregnant, nursing, elderly, weak, or underweight. Also avoid all forms of detoxification if you have diabetes or suffer from ulcers. Avoid chelation if you have kidney or liver problems. Avoid colonic irrigation if you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or any other type of bowel inflammation. Avoid it, too, if you suffer from diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, or tumors of the large intestine or rectum. Avoid fasting if you have advanced cancer, heart  problems, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, lung  problems, or tuberculosis. Avoid hyperthermia if you have asthma, epilepsy, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, or multiple sclerosis. Also avoid this therapy if you are very young or very old, have recently had surgery, or have a history of blood clots.

What Side Effects May Occur? – As with any therapy, side effects ranging from mild to serious can occur with any of the aforementioned therapies. It is very important for your health and well-being that any such treatments be carried out by fully trained and appropriately licensed individuals. At CEIM, a full-time, American Board certified physician is present  to help select the proper therapy for your needs.